How to Create and Restore a Named View in AutoCAD 2014

If you repeatedly have to zoom and pan to the same area in AutoCAD 2014, you can quickly see what you want by using a named view. After you name and save a view of a particular area of a drawing, you can return to that area quickly by restoring the view. You use the View command, which displays the View Manager dialog box, to create and restore named views.

Follow these steps to create a named view:

Zoom and pan until you find the area of the drawing to which you want to assign a name.

(Optional) Type a new category in the View Category text box, or select an existing one from the drop-down list.

You create your own view categories to organize views and certain display characteristics of views. This feature is used mainly in sheet sets. If you aren’t using them, you can leave the default value, <None>, in the View Category box or clear the current value.

Make sure that the View Typedrop-down list is set to Still.

The Still option creates a static thumbnail image of the objects in the area that is defined by the named view for use in ShowMotion. Visit the online Help system if you want to know more about the Cinematic and Recorded Walk options that you can choose from this drop-down menu.

AutoCAD LT doesn’t support view types, so if you’re working with AutoCAD LT, skip Step 6. The New View dialog box in AutoCAD LT omits the View Type list box, most of the Settings drop-down options, and the Background area.

In the Boundary area, select the Current Display radio button, if it isn’t selected already.

If you want to save a different view boundary, select the Define Window radio button instead, click the Define View Window button that appears to the right of it, and pick two corners of the region’s boundary (as though you’re zooming windows).

Confirm or change the choices in the Settings area.

If you select the Save Layer Snapshotwith View check box, when you later restore the view, AutoCAD also restores the layer visibility settings (On/Off and Freeze/Thaw) that were in effect when you created the view. The Live Section and Visual Style settings are intended primarily for 3D drawings; these two settings aren't included in AutoCAD LT.

Click OK.

The New View/Shot Properties (New View in AutoCAD LT) dialog box closes, and you see the new named view in the list in the View Manager dialog box.

Click OK.

The View Manager dialog box closes.

To restore a named view, follow these steps:

From the View tab on the Ribbon, click View Manager from the View panel.

In the Views list, expand either Model Views or Layout Views (depending on where you saved the view).

Double-click the name of the view you want to restore, and then click OK to close the dialog box.

In both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, you can set named views current without having to open the View Manager dialog box. From the Views panel on the View tab, simply choose a named view to restore from the list.